A Coming Judgment

The Parable of the Ten Virgins ... A Coming Judgement

Note: To hear Original Christian Country Gospel Music by J Stone Grant, proceed to the end of this presentation below. Then, click View My Complete Profile. Then click on AUDIO CLIP. You will then be able to select whatever song you would like to hear! God bless …

The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments are written in Blue. May we all have ears to hear.

Now let’s take a look at “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” as Jesus taught it in …

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were FOOLISH took their lamps, and TOOK NO OIL with them: But the WISE TOOK OIL in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 

I think we’ve all previously learned and/or should certainly know by now, that OIL in the Word of God is always representative of THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 2Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2Corinthians 4:7 But WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

One more thing before we continue. Keep these Scriptures, written by the Apostle Paul, in the back of your mind as we proceed. 1Corinthians 15:42-45 & 47-48 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, AND there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last (…sometimes called the second) Adam (Christ Jesus) was made a quickening spirit. …  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: AND as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. Ok … let’s get back to the Parable of the Ten Virgins …

The Parable shows us that ALL are confessors, and that they are ALL people who have come out to meet the bridegroom. What matters is to show the difference between the confessors. There are both false and real confessors.

Then the Lord explains this further by making a distinction in the ten virgins. He calls five foolish and five wise. The difference is not in going out, because they all go out. They also all have lamps. The distinction lies IN HAVING or NOT HAVING OIL IN THEIR LAMPS. What makes the foolish virgins foolish is that they have no oil. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and in some cases prophets were anointed with oil. The New Testament believer is anointed with the Holy Spirit in this way. The LAMP speaks of the INNERMOST BEING or the DEEPEST PART OF THE HEART within the living soul of the body … that is to say the VERY HEART OF ALL TEN OF THE EARTHEN VESSELS. Remember, they all have lamps. But, now to anoint an earthen vessel with OIL is to fill the  innermost and deepest part of the heart with the Holy Spirit of the Lord … or should we suffice it to say this lifts up or resurrects the WISE … THOSE WHO HAVE EARS TO HEAR (via the entrance of the second man) who is the Lord from Heaven) … by His Quickening Spirit. Remember: Zechariah 4:6 … Not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts. So, some had oil in their lamps and some did not. Five were wise, and five were foolish!

While the bridegroom delays His coming, all ten of the virgins fall asleep. Having possession of the Holy Spirit does not prevent the wise virgins from falling asleep. This indicates that the entire confessing church, even those who have the Holy Spirit living within, lose sight of the Lords return, and become complacent in regard to when it actually happens. In the early days of the church, the believers were looking forward to ‘the coming of the Lord’. But, I believe, because of some people having an incorrect perspective in the understanding of the Word, the ‘delay of His coming’ was misunderstood by several, and the expectation of the event subsided back then, as well as over the many generations since. This complacency is still alive today in the minds of many believers.

Ok, let’s take a look a what happens at midnight! Then, when it is midnight, when the night is at its darkest hour (In other words, when it’s time for our carnal flesh body to die, and to leave it and the entire world behind), there is a SHOUT. The bridegroom cometh! The call of the Holy Spirit is: “Behold, the bridegroom!” The person of the bridegroom awakens the sleepers from their sleep.(unawareness) Upon awakening, the one who was sleeping realizes … that it is time for the carnal flesh body to DIE. That’s why it sounds as follows: “Come OUT, (of your body) to meet HIM” (Christ Jesus in the Spirit and Glory of our Eternal Heavenly Father). In Matthew 25:1 … In the beginning of their walk with Christ Jesus, the people ‘CAME OUT’ and ‘WENT FORTH’ at the CALL OF HIS WORD, to receive Him. (That is to say when they first believed, repented, then freely chose to forsake all, denied self and followed Him … This moment in time, is the beginning of the first resurrection process, when they themselves were first given a measure of faith … chosen by Christ Jesus and ‘passed from death unto life) NOW at the end of their time on earth; at the ‘APPEARANCE and COMING OF HIS PRESENCE’  the cry is TO ‘COME OUT’  AGAIN. ‘COME OUT’ means: complete separation from the carnal flesh body, and the entire world … in order ‘TO MEET HIM’ (Christ Jesus in the Spirit and Glory of our Eternal Heavenly Father). (This is about meeting ETERNAL LIFE IN ITS FULLNESS. This is about meeting Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, face to face) Those who have died to self, surrendered to Christ Jesus, and experienced a real relationship with Him, by His Spirit or through His Word, who have passed from death unto life. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power ...They that have received OIL IN THEIR LAMPS … are SAVED from the power of the second death.

Remember when Jesus said in the Gospel of John “Marvel not at this.” All the virgins wake up. Both real and false Christians are preparing to meet the bridegroom. They all trim their lamps. They let the light they have shine again. That is also the moment that the foolish come to the discovery that they have no oil. They see that their lamps are going out. They had only lit the wick, but had not supplied themselves with oil. The lamp without oil represents a man who does not possess the Holy Spirit. The lamp of a natural person can sometimes let light shine for a while, giving the impression that there is oil, but in reality such a lamp goes out quickly.

John 5:24-29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death (from being Spiritually dead) unto life (unto Life in the Eternal Living God). Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in Himself; AND HATH GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT also, because He (Christ Jesus) is the Son of man. MARVEL NOT AT THIS: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves (ALL that are walking around Spiritually Dead) shall hear His voice, And shall come forth (AWAKE); they that have done good (THE WISE), unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil (THE FOOLISH), unto the resurrection of damnation. 

There is enough time between the Call and the Coming to make everyone’s condition clear. Now the foolish come to the discovery that they have no oil. They miss the essence of the light. The light they possessed was but an appearance. They recognize that the wise do have oil. They see that the wise have a real relationship with the bridegroom. Their question to the wise is whether they may have some of their oil. But the wise know that they cannot supply oil. So, they refer the foolish to those that SELL (Preachers, Teachers, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Witnesses) in order to BUY (to repent and lay down ones entire life, surrendering all to Christ Jesus … that’s the price) for themselves. In Matthew 16:24 He said … If ANY MAN will come after me (Christ Jesus), let him deny himself, (stop living his life his way) and take up his cross, (change over to what God has called him to do) and follow me. (follow Christ Jesus in living life His way)

Revelation 3:16-22 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to BUY OF ME gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: IF ANY MAN hear my voice, and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, and will sup with him, and he with me. TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith ... 

When the foolish have left to buy oil, the bridegroom comes. The wise, those who are ready, Enter the wedding feast with him. Then the door is closed. When the other virgins come, they also want to go in. They want to go inside and beg the Lord to open up for them. But for the foolish virgins it is too late. They should have been ready when the bridegroom presented himself. The Lord clearly indicates that there is no connection between Him and them. He does not know them. He does not pretend not to know them, but He really does not know them. They have never surrendered to him. There has never been love for him in their hearts. They found him interesting, but they never bowed before him.

The Lord Jesus extends a warning in the purpose of the parable to be on the alert. It is to move the wise to keep their eyes wide open and not fall asleep, and it is to move the foolish to become wise NOW by buying oil before it’s too late. Before Jesus went to the cross He said this in John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he (the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth) is come, he will reprove (convict: Strongs G1651) the world of SIN, and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince (the Devil; the ruler; chief magistrate; Strongs G758) of this world is judged.

Romans 14:8-12 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that HE might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 2Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Psalms 91:1-16 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

                                                    J Stone Grant

Keys to God's Kingdom

Keys to the Kingdom of God’s Heaven

Note: To hear Original Christian Country Gospel Music by J Stone Grant, proceed to the end of this presentation below. Then, click View My Complete Profile. Then click on AUDIO CLIP. You will then be able to select whatever song you would like to hear! God bless …

The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments are written in Blue. May we all have ears to hear. 

First of all, let’s take note of these Scriptures below.

Genesis 1:27 So God CREATED man (an individual or the species, mankind: Strongs H120) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God FORMED (to mould into: Strongs H3335; namely, self: H853) man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING SOUL. 

* Notice the reference for the word “man” in the Strongs numbered … H120

אָדָם

'âdâm

*  aw-dawm'

From H119; ruddy, that is, a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.): - X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

Now let’s look at the first time the name Adam was uses in the Scriptures …

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam (the same as H120; Adam, the name of the first man: Strongs H121) to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 

* Notice the reference for the word “Adam” in the Strongs numbered … H121

אָדָם

'âdâm

*  aw-dawm'

The same as H120; Adam, the name of the first man, also of a place in Palestine: - Adam.

* SAME EXACT WORD * We might want to give this some thought !! But I’m not going down this road today … Maybe another time! Ok … Moving on !!

1Corinthians 15:45 … The first man Adam (human being, mankind) was made a LIVING SOUL; the last (or the second) Adam (human being, mankind) was made a QUICKENING SPIRIT. 1Corinthians 15:47 The first man is OF THE EARTH, EARTHY: the second man is THE LORD FROM HEAVEN. Now, let’s keep these thoughts, in the back of our minds, as we go forward.

What is the Kingdom? … and … Where is the Kingdom located? How do we get in? Exactly what did Christ Jesus come here to do? Remember in the beginning of His ministry, when Jesus taught His Disciples how, and precisely what they should pray? Some people call this “The Lord’s Prayer”, but really it was a prayer to Our Heavenly Father from Christ Jesus as He taught His Disciples to come into agreement in prayer, in regard to the ministry work that was set before all of them, during each of their own lifetimes. Jesus knew what was ahead for Himself. And He was working to build a foundation in them. He was establishing His Church through teaching the Good News of the Christian Gospel Words of Truth to His Disciples. And, at that time, the Disciples really didn’t understand the seriousness and the challenges of the work ahead of them, in spreading the Gospel of Christ Jesus and of His Kingdom. Jesus knew that nothing happens in Christian Ministry without prayer, so prayer is where He began with his Disciples. Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven (in the abode of God; in happiness, power, and eternity: Strongs G3772), Hallowed (RESPECT and MENTALLY SANCTIFY PURE and HOLY: Strongs G37) be thy name (AUTHORITY, CHARACTER: Strongs G3686). Thy (of thee; YOUR: Strongs G4675) kingdom (ROYALTY, RULE, REALM, REIGN: Strongs G932) come (ACCOMPANY, APPEAR, COME ENTER or BE SET: Strongs G2064). Thy (of thee; YOUR: Strongs G4675) will be done IN earth (Remember, we are IN earthen vessels: 2Corinthians 4:6-7. He’s not talking about His will being done in the dirt or the worldly order making up the entire planet earth. He’s talking about HIS WILL BEING DONE IN those of us made from the dust of the earth, who have received Christ Jesus into our hearts, and have been past from death unto LIFE. That is to say, we are earthen vessels made ALIVE by receiving the Holy Spirit by FAITH through hearing the WORD of His glorious Gospel, while living and following HIS lead on planet earth), as it is IN heaven (in the abode of God; in happiness, power, and eternity: Strongs G3772). Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For THINE IS (of thee; or YOU ARE: Strongs G4675) THE KINGDOM, and THE POWER, and THE GLORY, for ever. Amen. In other words Our Heavenly Father IS the Kingdom!

Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (In other words … you’ll NEVER see this kingdom with your physical eyes) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom (Realm: Strongs G932) of God (the Supreme Deity; Divinity: Strongs G2316) is WITHIN YOU. John 4:24 God (our Heavenly Father) is a Spirit. And where is this Kingdom? It’s Within You!

Now how does one enter into the Kingdom? Jesus taught it this way! John 10:1-5 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (He … Jesus … presents Himself as “the door”. He is not the door of Israel, but of the sheep. There is no other door, no other way for the sheep to enter the place of blessing. That blessing is the blessing found in Christendom, which is on a totally different basis than everything connected with Judaism) To him the porter (God the Father) openeth; and (all of) the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (Notice the difference between “the sheep” and “His own sheep”) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

John 10:6-18 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. The Lord speaks of those who have risen from among the people, such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees, many of whom Jesus called vipers. They were seen as thieves and robbers. They were robbers of the people and they robbed God by pursuing only their own interests at the expense of His people. The sheep have not listened to them, which means that there is no bond of trust between the sheep and them. Now, the Lord speaks about those who have already been led out and are His own sheep. He points once more to Himself as the door, this time not with regard to the sheep, but to present the blessings, that every sheep receives … that is, that every human-being receives … who enters the area of blessing, through Him … Christ Jesus. Those blessings are threefold: “to be saved”, “to go in and out” and “to find pasture”. I AM THE DOOR: BY ME IF ANY MAN ENTER IN, HE SHALL BE (1)SAVED, (Here is a clear definition and results of SAVED in advance of the work Christ Jesus had yet to do on the cross … that is His death, burial, resurrection and ascending unto the right hand of the Father) Luke 1:67-75 And his (John the Baptist’s) father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation (Christ Jesus) for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be SAVED from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE. AND (2) SHALL GO IN AND OUT, This is an expression that indicates Freedom. In Judaism, under the LAW, there was no free access to God. Nor were the Jews free to go out to other nations to tell them about God. But now, under GRACE, they are free to enter into the Holy of Holies, by the blood of Christ Jesus, and they are free to go into all of the world to preach and teach the Christian Gospel everywhere. AND (3) FIND PASTURE.  This indicates the revealing and abundant understanding of uplifting and encouraging Spiritual Food, that the good Shepherd offers them, as opposed to the lifeless words and whatever the false shepherds have to offer, who only feed and pasture themselves. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (Speaking of the work on the cross) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (Again, Jesus is speaking of His death, burial and resurrection) John 10:19-24 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. John 10:25-30 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. John 10:31-33 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. John 10:34-38 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. John 10:39-42 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Call upon Christ Jesus … Listen to His Word … Study and Learn of Him … looking and trusting God to receive “faith” and “belief” in Him … When you sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Only Living God, our Heavenly Father, and that Jesus Christ laid down His life, shedding His Blood of atonement for all of the sin in your life, then it’s up to you to  … Make a DEFINITE DECISION, to give your heart to Him, to surrender all of who you are … that is all of your innermost being…the good as well as the bad, to Him. Matthew 11:28-30  COME UNTO ME, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Romans 10:17 So then FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD … Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Repentance  (to express regret; to reconsider, change the mind and think differently; to make a definite decision and choose to turn away from wrong, in order to live life in true righteousness: G3340) Matthew 4:17 … Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mark 1:15  … The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Believe (to have faith in; and to place trust in: Strongs G4100) the Christian Gospel. If ye only believe … Jesus is the Son of the God. He shed His blood and died for the forgiveness of, or atonement of our sin, and after 3 days in the heart of the earth, He led captivity captive, arose from the tomb and ascended to the Father, where everlasting dominion and all authority was given unto Him in Heaven and in Earth by our Heavenly Father. He then CAME AGAIN unto the upper room IN THE GLORY OF THE FATHER…establishing HIS CHURCH MADE WITHOUT HANDS, under GRACE, by coming to live within the innermost being of those assembled … and granting Eternal Life to whosoever would receive Him (believing He is the Way, the Truth and the Life) thereby establishing His Kingdom  (that shall never pass away) IN EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN, not by might, nor by power, but BY HIS SPIRIT. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Romans 10:9-17 & 12:3 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved … So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 12:3 For I (the Apostle Paul) say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you (the believers), not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Be a doer of the Word … not a hearer only! James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves … But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Seek ye first the Kingdom and His Righteousness Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Remember this Scripture? Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Clean the inside of the Cup … MOST important! Matthew 23:25-26 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. How do we please our God, and cleanse ourselves within? Well, some practices, which were done under the Law, are still done under Grace, in order to promote unity, understanding and love of one another for complete Christian growth and maturity sake. We must forgive those who have offended and/or hurt us. Ask those whom we have offended and/or hurt, to forgive us. Reconcile differences. Openly confess our faults one to another. Pray for each other. In the New Covenant of Grace, we find this Scripture: James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Remember back when Israel was under the Old Covenant of Law, they cleansed themselves in this manner. Nehemiah 9:2-3 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. Oh, I know that most Church Leaders of today, tell us to never dig up all of that old sinful stuff in our past! But I’m telling you, that openly confessing ALL of that old stuff, does wonders for your maturity and Christian growth. Now, I don’t mean just that stuff you are willing to confess. I also mean that stuff, that you are NOT willing to confess. Get rid of ALL of it! Of course, it must be done at the right place and time, with the right people and through the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It can’t be done with just anyone. A wrong counselor or trusted person can turn and rend you. And one doesn’t have to continually live in the past. Confess it once openly … Get rid of the garbage … Dump it … Leave it there, and move on with your life. Do not come up with … I’ll just tell God the Father about it in private … He already knows all about it. Be man enough, or woman enough, to face yourself, and confess it openly. You’ll find out that the only one concerned and/or worried about your garbage … is YOU! Get it done! You’ll truly be glad you did, and you’ll surely be set free! John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  

A Key to the Kingdom: Surrender All Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. To follow Christ Jesus costs everything. One must set all of his own desires completely aside, along with all of his own interests (Surrender all). Then he must also be prepared to suffer the reproach of the world. This is the meaning of “take up his cross”(Surrender all), and follow the Holy Spirit into the Lord’s plan & purpose for his life. (Surrender all) Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. And yet Jesus says in John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 15:7-11 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

A Key to the Kingdom: Entrance granted to the Kingdom John 13:36-38 – John 14:4  Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, THOU CANST NOT FOLLOW ME NOW; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house (abode, family: Strongs G3614) are many mansions (dwelling places: G3306, G3438): if it were not so, I would have told you. Christ Jesus is saying to Peter and to all who seek to follow the Lord … You see the Father dwelling in me, (Jesus said I and my Father are one) but I (Jesus) am saying that HE is coming to live in many dwelling places, that HE is coming to live in the hearts of each and every believer who will truly receive HIM. I go to prepare a place for you. (Remember, Jesus said these things before He went to the cross? Here, Jesus is talking about going to the cross and doing all that is necessary to establish the Kingdom of God in earth (earthen vessels) that is, in the Disciple Peter, as well as anyone else who would choose to follow Him) And if I (Jesus) go and prepare a place for you (Peter), I WILL COME AGAIN, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO. And (THEN) WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YE KNOW. In other words, AFTER Christ Jesus HAS COME to live IN Peter (the believer, asking before, why he cannot follow the Lord) he can THEN know where the Lord Jesus is leading him, and can THEN truly follow HIM. And so can all of us who live and desire to follow our Lord throughout the generations. Now let’s look at what the Apostle Peter had to say, after Jesus went to the cross, and after being filled with the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room! 2Peter 1:3-11 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: FOR SO AN ENTRANCE SHALL BE MINISTERED UNTO YOU ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

The Apostle Paul told it straight up in Romans 14:17 For THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS … but RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Who is the Father, and where is He? Remember that God the Father is Spirit who grants a measure of faith to all who have ears to hear His Word. Where does He live? He lives Within You. God the Father is the Porter! No one cometh unto His Kingdom Within, except by Christ Jesus the Son, the ONLY DOOR) John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Revelation 22:12-15 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, (doers of the Word) that they may have right to the tree of life (right to partake of the joy of life), and may enter in through the gates into the city (the Presence of the Lord). For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

John 14:15-26 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; … ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. … I will come to you. … because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He … that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, … John 16:13-15  … when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Jesus spoke this after he arose from the tomb and before He ascended upon high, to the right hand of the Father. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And Luke continues in Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

The Bottom Line: Romans 14:17 For THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS … but RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

Luke 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask (crave, desire: Strongs G154), and it shall be given (delivered, granted: G1325) you; seek (worship, enquire for means: Strongs G2212), and ye shall find (obtain, see: Strongs G2147); knock, (to rap: Strongs G2925) (In other words … CONTINUALLY, REPEATEDLY pray to Christ Jesus, asking and seeking. He is the door. Keep knocking on Him) and it shall be opened unto you. (The Porter is still faithful to openeth) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

        J. Stone Grant ><>